Molded pulp carton



April 1949- l. w. cox I 2,466,579

momma PULP CARTON IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 MOLDED PULP CARTON- I John W. Cox, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Shellmar Products Corporation, Chicago, III., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1943, Serial No. 503,030

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) The present invention relates to improvements in cartons molded integrally of paper pulp. More particularly, it pertains to cellular egg cartons of the two-by-six type. and one of its objects is the provision of such a carton which may be molded of paper pulp to afford a receptacle having plane bounding walls and egg-receiving compartments partitioned from one another by upstanding projections molded on the receptacle bottom independently of the bounding walls and formed so as to strengthen and rigidify the carton structure as a whole, when it is in open condition as well as when it is closed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide such a carton which maybe manufactured economically and which aii'ords extensive plane exterior surfaces that may be conveniently printed with decorative or advertising matter, and which is of symmetrical and well balanced structural appearance, and which will retain eggs of different sizes securely and protect them effectively, and which is of such form and dimensions that it can be packed thirty to a case in egg cases of standard thirty-dozen capacity, and which lends itself conveniently to handling by automatic appliances in the packaging plant and which may be securely fastened in closed condition.

Further objects of the invention will be evident upon a consideration of the following SW01! fication and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cellular molded pulp carton embodying the present invention, shown with the covers in fully open positions;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view in cross section of the cartonof Fig. 1 with the covers closed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a modified form of cellular molded pulp carton embodying the invention, and

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view in cross section of the carton of Fig. 3 with the covers closed.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing there is shown a plan view of an integrally molded carton which comprises a receptacle, designated generally by the reference numeral it, which is partitione into two longitudinal rows of egg-receiving compartments by upstanding embossments molded entirely in its bottom wall It in such fashion as to form an integral grid made up of longitudinally running elements I: and transverse elements II. A shallow raised portion it may be formed in the bottom of each compartment to function as a cushion and rest for the end of the egg. The

receptacle III has longitudinally running side I walls I! that are unbroken and plane and are connected at their ends by end walls It into which the grid merges at its ends.

- The transverse partition elements II are formed as hollow arches which spring from the plane of the bottom wall adJacent the side walls and rise high enough I to separate eggs in ad-. iacent compartments and to provide cover rests along the longitudinal median line of the receptacle. The partition elements may be made wide enough at their bottoms to afford eggs of different sizes suitable cushioning support upon their sloping wall portions. By terminating the transverse partition elements I3 adjacent but short of the side boundary walls of the receptacle, the receptacle is afiorded requisite stiffening throughout its width while the side walls are enabled to present uninterrupted exterior surfaces which contribute desirable qualities to the appearance of the carton and afford extensive areas which can be conveniently printed.

The longitudinal partition elements I! may be of less height than the elements l3, but should be high enough to cooperate with the cover walls, as hereinafter described, to afford separators between the eggs in the opposite rows.

It will be observed that this grid construction, in addition to partitioning the receptacle into egg-receiving compartments, constitutes an integral spine-and-rib structure which contributes desirable rigidity to the receptacle both transversely and longitudinally.

The end walls of the receptacle are formed with endboundary portions l6 and re-entrant portions l6a which are in alignment and conjunction with the longitudinal spine of the grid, and the re-entrant areas between wall portions "a are bridged by gusset-like ledges ll at the level of the upper margins of the end walls and lying entirely inwardly from the outer margins of the boundary walls. These ledges il may be formed as continuations of the top portions of the longitudinal grid elements when they are in the same plane. The transverse partition elements I! may be provided with narrow depressions ll extending transversely of their crests.

A pair of cover members I! is molded integrally with the receptacle, each of a width approximately one-half that of the receptacle and formed to cover a longitudiual'row of the egg compartments. The side walls 20 of each cover member converge toward and are connected to each other by a top panel 2|, said side walls and top panels being unbroken and plane. The end walls 22 of each cover member connect the side walls and top panels at their ends and converge toward the top panels and at their lower margins are of a contour such as. to seat in register on the corresponding end wall portions of the receptacle. One of the side walls of each cover member is hinged at'its margin to the top edge of a side wall of the receptacle along the line indicated at 23. The hinging or swinging action may be facilitatedby the provision of a score line at this location. At the corner portions adjacent the ends of the free side walls of each cover eggs opposite rows.

. x 3 I members are triangular'proiections 24 lying in the plane, oi. the lower margins enthe cover. end

walls sndinhxe'd so as to seat; oni thelcdges u when the covers are swung to closed positions portions of those side walls oijsunlcient depth,

am egg cases oi thirty-dozen capacity. Moreq upbm a ns su ce 91, t wtacleisid'eiwalls give the earton a nnished and well balanced 'ap' arance which is indicative 0! its inherent strength and whichlends iteel! com veniently to decorative or advertisemental printthe exterior surfaces.

It w ill berecognized that many changes may l made in th invention as described herein parts or them may be caused to enter the, de- J'piwithout departing from the scope of the invenpressions It, into which they may be wedged to contribute a cover-retaining effect. when "the covers are in closed positions, portions oitheir side walls cooperate with the longitudinal partition elements of the receptacle to separate the The depressions maybe omitted so that the cover side walls will seat directly on the tops oi! the'transversepartition elements, butjii the depressions are provided, either the transverse partition elements must he a higher than the receptacle sidewalls, or the tree cover wallsmust befdeeper than their end walls in order to enter the "depressions. The corner.

projections! oi the covers-come to rest-upon e u V I theinwardly situated'ledges ll, whichthus 0 0- l? iffening-and rigidifying the bottom sec,-

operate with the grid to afford the covers rigid support along the longitudinal axis of the carton. The ;ledgesl'| and/or the projections flcan be provided with a thermoplastic adhesiveon their 7 section having a lower-egg supporting portion and side and end walls extending angularly therefrom, longitudinal and transverse compartdownwardly and outwardly to junctions the bottom'section, said partition members suisstan tion, and cover membershingemy connected t9 oppositeside walls" of said bottom section, longitudinal partition means and tra'nsver'separ titlo'n members terminating at di'flerent elevacontacting faces, and the carton, after being 0135 with respa'to 1 91 8 'closed, may be sealed by applying simple heating units of conventional type momentarily to the ledges and projections to activate the adhesive. As an alternative, wire staples or otherjastening elements-may be seated in or applied to the 35 meeting elements I! and 24 to secure them to each 'other. Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the grid is and the higher thereof having longitudinally ex tending depressions formed tner'ein'nr width" ap proxhn'ating "the combined thickness n: the free edges of" said cover member forth' reception oi said lreej ed'gs.' 1

2. A- cellular egg carton molded to'iorm a re: ceptacle' having side' arid end wallsconne'cted B? a bottom'which' is iormed'with {grid-like com p'artmentizing and stme'ning structure compris' molded with its spine or longitudinal element ii: 40 s an v rs l x ndin l m n h' mm 'carton, it will be understood that they may the same as the form above described having similar end tabs or corner projections 14 which, when the covers are closed, will seat upon abutments H1. 'The covers jcan likewise be held closed by the utilization of an adhesive or'stapl'e's',

and, being connected integrally with the of the receptacles side walls and extendingangu' larlytherefromthe covers serve to stiflfen-those walls against inward and outward deflection," and By virtue of the angle structure thus formed along botheides of the carton, it is given very eil'eetive [overall stillness and stability. f

In View of'the fact thatthis construction" an;

mlts the entire covers and all fastening and rein} iorcing elements to be located entirely within the area defined by the outer boundary walls of the egg compartments, all the walls of the carton maybemoldedflof suillcient thickness to 'give'it great overall stillness and rigidity, while "allowing local cushioning support for the eggs, 7

all this while holding the overall dimensions'di the carton within such limits as to permit them if"??? ne Wa e y; shi ts-Wy e 12" f of arches springing from the 'bottom' adjacent the side walls and connected by longitudinal 'ele''- ments disposed approximately midway between the receptacle side walls, said elements serving 4 to partition the" receptacle into' two 'rows' of egg compartments, and two cover members hinged respectively-to the-upper margins of the opposite side walls of the "receptacle and swlng'ablei to no w1th respect to t cover mgmbeg i-fr 'thi a sition to'covercne-hali the width of the'cart'ion.

said cover members having wall portions'arranged to seat oh' and belvert ically braced bycertain or said grid elements approximately midway between said side walls, certain of the gift! elements being provided in their upper surfaces with hi?- 5 row depressions of width approin'matln'gthe com bined thickness or sidewall portions" of the cover to receive and hold said portions wlth'w'edging a'ction.-

a aorns'w. 'cox 'BEFERENCES I The following references-j arefoi recordin' the rile of this patent": I 4

UNITED STA'I'ES PATENTS- v mentizing means the carton into 'a t 

